Jim Boeheim feuds with reporter over retirement question

Apr. 7, 2013
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Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim reacts on the sideline against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome. / Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports

Boeheim protested the question further, asking Doyel if he was going to ask the same thing of Michigan's John Beilein or Louisville's Rick Pitino.

"I'm not going to answer that question unless you ask every coach that question. Are you going to ask John if he's going to retire or not coming back next year? I've never indicated at any time that I'm not coming back next year - ever."

The exchange got testy when Doyel pointed out that media members ask players frequently after NCAA tournament games if they plan on coming back next year.

"And they handle it better than you," Doyel remarked.

Boeheim will be 69 in November, and with Syracuse moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, there has been speculation he might retire. He made remarks earlier in the season that fed into that speculation but tweaked his standard answer in the postseason, saying repeatedly he plans on coming back.

Boeheim circled back on the topic and said, "Just to answer the question, so everybody knows, I've answered all the questions, even though I get mad. I have never said I was not going to be back next year at any time ever. I'm frankly tired of being asked that question.

"I don't mean to be personal on anybody. Anybody that asked that question I would have been upset because, you know, I just think - I don't know why. Just 'cause you get old. Because I'm old? I mean, what is it?"

Doyel said, "Honestly, my theory with you is you don't want to coach in the ACC because of your Big East loyalty."

Boeheim replied, "I'm sorry, I apologize. It wasn't you. Anybody that asked that question, I would have been mad."

The coach and columnist then made up, with each apologizing to the other and Doyel blowing him a kiss.

Boeheim wrapped up his news conference with the following:

"But, no, I've heard this. Roy Williams has got a bet on it, somebody else has got a bet on it. I love the Big East, but if the Big East was the same as it was, or even remotely the same, I would quit because I wouldn't be happy.

"The Big East is not there at all. In fact, there's more Big East teams in the ACC than there are Big East teams in whatever the conference is, American whatever.

"So I should be happy because there's more teams that I know in the ACC. I've always thought that the two best leagues in the country were the ACC and the Big East over the last 34 years. I've always thought that. I mean, somebody can prove me wrong in a number of ways, but it's just my opinion. I always thought they were the two best leagues.

"For us to be able to stay on the East Coast, and predominantly all our games are an hour and a half, almost all, and in the Big East, without this crazy expansion, we had to go to Florida, we had to go to Marquette, Notre Dame anyway. So we had long trips. We'll have the same long trips that we had. When you're chartering now, it's mostly an hour, most of these trips.

"I mean, the ACC has absolutely zero input into whether I would not coach next year. The only reason that I would not coach next year is because I didn't feel I could do a good job or wanted to do it, and I have no feeling at all now that that will be the case. Usually right now I would have that feeling. If I don't have it now, I'm not going to have it in September.

"And I don't want anybody to be thinking, like I don't want to ever say, I'll think about it and tell you later. I'll never do that. I'll never do that. I think that's not the way to do it for the program, and I wouldn't do that.

"But I've enjoyed this team as much as any team I've ever coached. They've achieved more than I ever thought they could. And I always think they can achieve a lot.

"You know, I like where we are. Everything in me intends to be back coaching next year. And I always say this at the end, that's probably why people ask me the question: there's always a chance that somebody might think, you know, you get back into coaching, you get in the thing, you just don't feel it. If that happens, you know, I don't want to ever let it be said that I misled anybody.

"As far as I know, I'm 100% coaching next year. You know, that's really kind of where I'm at right now."